As he approached me and examined me, I tried to find some changes in myself, but apart from the fact that I had the feeling that I had become stronger, there was nothing else.
- Are you sure that I managed to learn the sword style of the chosen ones? - I asked avel, who continued to examine me. - I don't have any feeling that I learned anything new.
Hearing my question, avel laughed and shook his head, saying something in an unfamiliar language, he put his hands on my shoulders. Not understanding why he was doing this, I was about to ask about his actions when he spoke.
- Perhaps you do not see changes in yourself, but your hesitations and your behavior have changed even if you do not understand it. - Shomufi said in a quiet voice, looking into my eyes.
I understood that in front of me was only part of avel's memories and that he was more experienced and wiser than me in talking about the styles of the chosen ones.
I was bothered by one question that haunted me and I was thinking about how best to formulate it, but after thinking it over, I could only ask directly.
- My question may seem strange, can the style of the chosen one take the opportunity to see it? - I asked my interlocutor, trying to think about the words I spoke. - You see, in my third test I fought against myself, but I looked different.
Talking about how I passed the third test and how my reflection looked, I could see how avel narrowed his eyes and looked closely at my face.
It was difficult for me to understand whether my words caused any alarm, but avel allowed me to finish my descriptions and only then he walked away and turned his back to me; I could see his wings twitching and Shomufi again switched to a language unknown to me.
- Each chick has his own sword style, which includes not only his skill, but also what he fights for. - Avel turned to me, turning his head towards me and continuing without taking his eyes off me. - The real reasons why you draw your sword from its scabbard determine how much your sword style will develop.
It was difficult for me to understand avel's words about what the true reasons and development of the sword were avel speaking. Shomufi saw in my eyes that I did not understand what he was talking about.
- Everyone who owns their own style transfers more thoughts and goals into their weapons than those who use ready-made styles like your Kray Empire. - Sighing, avel ran his hand through the air and a sword appeared in front of us with a curved tip. - Each style is unique, one can force even a confident enemy to run away, while another style in battle will try to strike at non-lethal points and force the enemy to surrender.
Listening to the words of my interlocutor, I sat down on the cold floor. Shomufi continued to stand in front of me and, running his hand along the steel of the curved blade, a bitter smile appeared on his face.
- Previously, there were warriors who had weapon styles that were projected into the world and seen by their opponents. Such swordsmen were rare among the chosen gods as they had their own path. - Avel said with sadness in his voice, holding his hand next to the sword in front of me, it seemed like another memory.
Shomufi and I looked at avel and the dark elf who were standing, as I could see, somewhere in a destroyed city or village.
Smoke was visible that rose to the sky and destroyed houses, the sun's rays made it possible to better see avel and the dark elf.
I recognized Shomufi who was dressed in armor and his wings spread out menacingly and his feathers looked like blades aimed at the dark elf.
In his hands, avel held the same curved sword as was next to him in the hall, looking from him to the dark elf, I could see that not one was trying to attack, both looked at each other appraisingly. Turning my gaze to the dark elf who was able to attract avel's attention, I I tried to find what Shomufi wanted to show me.
His opponent was dressed in gray armor that emphasized his thin body, his long hair tied in a ponytail was the same color as Cassandra, was this dark elf somehow related to her?
In his hands he held a sword that seemed to me to be shimmering with different colors, neither Shomufi nor avel said anything and I didn't know whether I would have understood what they were saying or not, the dark elf was the first to make a move, delivering a cutting blow from the side up,
avel immediately reacted by leaving from the blow and pointing his sword in the other direction where his opponent's sword was not aiming.
Avel's gaze was focused on the dark elf who continued to strike, and when I was about to ask Shomufi why he was holding the blade in that direction, another enemy appeared right where avel's blade was aimed.
The new opponent looked just like a dark elf, only I was surprised to find that he was transparent. The blow of this dark elf forced Shomufi to take several steps back.
It was noticeable from the faces of the dark elves that they were experiencing joy from the battle and without waiting for an answer, they again rushed to attack, sometimes the transparent dark elf disappeared and appeared next to avel, trying to strike an unprotected part of Shomufi's body.
It was clear from avel that the battle was not easy for him, whether this battle was before he became the chosen one or whether he was then, I was at a loss.
The dark elves did not look tired, they continued to strike, forcing Shomufi to remain on the defensive, immersed in their battle, I hardly noticed one blow from avel when the transparent dark elf disappeared again.
Shomufi struck from above, where the dark elf stood, caught by the blow; he could only accept it due to the fact that avel's steel was close to him.
I had expectations that the dark elf would attack again when Shomufi was caught by the ghostly dark elf, but instead the enemy fell to his knees, resting the tip of his sword on the ground.
A bitter smile was visible on the dark elf's face, and blood began to flow from his lips, it was clear that he was saying something to avel, and he nodded to him and dealt him another blow, decapitating the dark elf, the head fell next to the body, which fell forward.
The dark elf's sword stopped shimmering in different colors and crackles began to be visible on it. Whether this was caused by their battle, I didn't know.
Shomufi ran his hand again and the wall of the hall where we were again appeared in front of us. There was silence, I tried to think about what I saw, Shomufi looked sadly at the wall and turned his gaze to the blade that was next to him.
- As you noticed, probably my second opponent did not have a body but was magical, like me now. - Avel turned to me with a sigh. - It was precisely the style that achieved the ability to project, and it was owned by the first patriarch of the dark elves, Lushoain.
Breaking out of my thoughts with the voice of Shomufi and hearing the name of the dark elf, I remembered the story about the dark elf who united all the dark elves into one empire and then after some time he disappeared.
- After he created the empire of the dark elves and made sure that there were no threats left to his race, he went to look for the chosen gods. - Avel said, not paying attention to me, he went to the thrones.
Approaching the thrones, Shomufi ran his hand over them, remembering the past, and turning to me, he beckoned me to come to him.
Rising from the cold floor and feeling how my legs began to feel bad again, I headed towards avel.
- Continuing his wanderings and spending time in duels both with the chosen ones and with representatives of other races, and in one of such battles the ruler of the avels lost to him. - Shomufi said with anger in his voice, squeezing the throne. - I did not know that after the duel the ruler harbored a grudge against Lushoain and ordered an attack on him within the city.
More anger came from avel's voice when he mentioned the ruler of his own avel race, Shomufi's wings began to twitch more and more, wanting to straighten out.
Approaching the throne near which avel stood and looking at him, I could not understand why he called me specifically to him.
- When he was attacked, he tried to escape from the battle, but my relatives continued to attack him and then he had to use his sword style. - Shomufi said, resting his hands on the throne and looking at me. - And then there were screams and the city burned, the ruler turned to me only then, having arrived at the place and seeing the dead and the groans of the wounded and finding Lushoain who was standing in the place where you saw him, he turned to me with a request to let him enjoy the battle one last time.
Listening to avel and seeing with what anger he recalled that day, I could only listen to him and hope to understand why he was telling all this.
- I gave him a fight and after that one of the wounded told me how the ruler ordered them to attack the dark elf. - Avel said in a loud voice, it was clear from his face that that day had a great influence on him. - Having learned the reason for Lushoain's attack, I went to the ruler who was drinking in the hall and executed him in front of all the courtiers. You're probably wondering why I told you everything?
I already guessed what avel was talking about, but I wanted to hear confirmation from Shomufi, who turned his gaze to me and sighed and continued.
- You must understand that if in my time the rulers were arrogant, in your time there were even more of them. - Shomufi said with a slight laugh. - And your style will sense for what purpose you pull out a sword and fight, and when it reaches the ability to project itself, it will behave like you.
I agreed with the opinion that, regardless of time, there will always be representatives of races who consider themselves better than others.
- Your style has already begun to take shape externally, as well as why you pick up a sword. And remember, it is not the sword that directs the blow, but you, otherwise you will become his servant and not he yours, and now sit on the throne. - Shomufi addressed me with a stern voice.
Sitting down on the throne, I felt a connection with something outside the sanctuary of the gods, and there were several of them in different parts of the world.